Of Oleander / or Rose Baye. Chap. lxxx.
❀ The Description.
OLeander is a little tree or shrub, bearing leaues greater, thicker, and rougher, then the leaues of the Almonde tree, the flowers be of a fayre red colour, diuided into fiue leaues, and not much vnlike a litle Rose. The fruite is as long as a finger, full of rough hearie seede, like the coddes or huskes of Asclepias, called in Englishe Swallowe wort.
❀ The Place.
Oleander groweth in some Countries by riuers, and the sea syde, in pleasant places (as Dioscorides writeth) in this Countrie in the gardens of some Herboristes.
❀ The Tyme.
In this Countrie it bringeth foorth his flower in Iune.
❀ The Names.
This plante is called in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: Nicander calleth it also Neris: in Latine Laurus rosea, and Rosea ar∣bor: that is to say, Rose tree: in Shoppes Oleander: in Frenche Rosagine, or Rosage: in Douche Oleander boom: in Englishe Rose tree, or Rose Baye tree, Oleander, and Nerium.
❀ The Nature.
Oleander is also very hoate and drie of Complexion.
❀ The Vertues.
It hath scarse one good propertie. It may be compared to a Pharisee, who maketh a glorious and beautifull shewe, but inwardly is of a corrupt and poysoned nature. God graunt all true Christians and Christian Realmes, whereas this tree, or any branche thereof, beginneth to spread and fiorishe, to put to their helping handes to destroy it, and all the branches thereof: as dissi∣mulation,